ERGO Network’s Annual Members Meeting 2021
Having the ongoing pandemic in mind, this year’s ERGO Network Annual Members’ Meeting took place once more online.
This year’s AMM started with the Data Collection Working Group on the 3rd of December, led by Isabela Mihalache, Senior Policy Officer, helping the participants to understand better the role of data collection in the delivery of our advocacy work. The focus was on the monitoring and data collection under the new EU Roma Framework, the new Roma Civil Monitoring, as well as brainstorming on the needs of Roma Civil Society to engage effectively in the monitoring of national Roma strategic frameworks.
From 6-7 December 2021, ERGO Network met on Zoom with the membership to share updates, and facilitate learning and exchange.
The first day started with a welcome from Director Gabriela Hrabaňová, Board co-chair Stanislav Daniel and vice-chair Adriatik Hasantari, highlighting the energy, flexibility and collectiveness of the members once again and their motivation to work under such uncertain conditions.
During this day, the ERGO strategic pillars 2021 were presented and participants attended breakout rooms designed to provide them with updates and highlights of 2021. Each of the rooms, moderated by staff and members of ERGO Network, tackled ERGO’s core working areas, such as advocacy for strong Roma policies, Roma social inclusion and poverty policies, as well as projects such as Romani Women – Power of Change.
The second day kicked off with the Employment Working Group. Amana Ferro and Carmen Tănasie from the ERGO Network Secretariat in Brussels provided participants with updates regarding the state of play of current and upcoming employment work, covering the main EU policy frameworks and the specific actions under the Youth Guarantee and ERGO Network’s Employment Campaign. Members then exchanged about their work and priorities on Roma quality employment.
This session was followed by the Governance Working Group led by director Gabriela Hrabaňová, where updates about the new ERGO, move of the seat of the organization officially to Belgium and procedures were shared.
Towards the end of the day, the membership had the opportunity to work on a new communication strategy with ERGO’s new communication officer Ana Rozanova. This was followed by a presentation about the new initiative and campaign called “Decade against Antigypsyism” presented by Mustafa Jakupov, policy and project coordinator at ERGO. Members had the opportunities to familiarize themselves with the idea and brainstorm about the kick-off next year.
This year’s Annual Members’ Meeting concluded with wishes for the forthcoming holiday season and hopes for meeting in person. Also, the members were reminded about the next day and ERGO Network’s online roundtable “Funding of bottom-up approaches: Ways forward to support Roma inclusion”, organized in the framework of the project “New Solutions to Old Problems”.
